European Union - Harmonized Standards Dates of Withdrawal

By Ylenia Merli,  EMEA regulatory program expert

Electrical equipment that is in conformity with a harmonized European Standard (EN) cited in the Official Journal of the European Union may be presumed to be in conformity with the corresponding requirements of harmonization legislation.

New European harmonized standard editions or amendments become mandatory starting from the date of cessation of presumption of conformity of superseded standard as published in the Official Journal of the European Union. Generally, this date is the same as the date of withdrawal (DOW) as published in the individual superseding standards.

This date marks the end of the period during which both the old and the new version of the standard can be used to claim presumption of conformity to the essential requirements of the relevant directive. After that date, presumption of conformity can no longer be claimed for a product manufactured according to the old version of the standard.

Here is a recent change in harmonized standards:

On July 31, 2020, with the decision to implement EU 2020/1146, the list of harmonized standards under the Directive 2014/35/EU regarding electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits has been amended.

The new standards published in the Official Journal of the European Union may be used by manufacturers in order to assess and declare the conformity to the regulation requirements of Directive 2014/35/EU. The publication in the official journal grants presumption of conformity.

Please be aware that it is an amendment and not the complete list.

The Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/1146 of July 31, 2020, amended Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/1956 regarding harmonized standards for certain household appliances, thermal links, equipment in cable networks for television signals, sound signals and interactive services, circuit breakers, arc quenching and welding, installation couplers intended for permanent connection in fixed installations, transformers, reactors, power supply units and combinations, electric vehicle conductive charging system, cable ties and management, control circuit devices, switching elements, emergency lighting, electronic circuits used with luminaires, and discharge lamps.

This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union except for Point (1) of Annex I that shall apply on Feb. 3, 2022. 

On Aug. 21, 2020, EN IEC 63067:2020 Electrical installations for lighting and beaconing of aerodromes - Connecting devices - General requirements and tests have been published.

The EN IEC 63067:2020 applies to plugs and receptacles for single- or multiple-pole connecting devices used for aeronautical ground lighting applications. Additional requirements and usage of connecting devices are given in different parts of IEC 61820 series. Connecting devices complying with this document are suitable for use in environmental class E11 according to IEC 61820-1.

On Sept. 11, 2020, the new standard EN IEC 63103:2020 has been published.

The EN IEC 63103:2020 is equivalent to IEC 63103:2020 IEC 63103:2020(E) and specifies methods of measurement of electrical power consumption in non-active mode(s), as applicable for electrical lighting equipment. This includes electrical lighting equipment incorporating non-illumination components.

This document specifies neither performance requirements nor limits on power consumption.

This document applies to lighting equipment connected to a supply voltage up to 1,500 V DC or up to 1,000 V AC.

This document is intended to be referenced by lighting equipment product standards for the measurement of nonactive mode power consumption. Details for the nonactive mode power consumption measurement and data presentation are specified in the product standards

IECEE CB Scheme

The CB Scheme is a vast international arrangement established by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) for mutual acceptance of test reports among participating certification organizations in the field of electrical and electronic equipment.

The CB Scheme is an international network of product certification organizations in more than 50 countries around the world. It benefits product manufacturers and distributors engaged in international trade by providing:

• A single point of product testing for efficient Global Market Access
• Global acceptance of test reports leading to national certification in CB Scheme member countries
• Unilateral acceptance of test reports in many developing countries that are not yet participating in the CB Scheme

On Aug. 17, 2020, IEC published the new standard, IEC 60598-1:2020.

The IEC 60598-1:2020 specifies general requirements for luminaires, incorporating electric light sources for operation from supply voltages up to 1,000 V.

The requirements and related tests of this document cover: classification, marking, mechanical construction, electrical construction and photobiological safety.

This edition constitutes a technical revision and includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:

• Revision of Clause 4.30, Fixing cover live parts of non-user-replaceable light source; - Subclause 4.24.2, Blue Light Hazard: removal of Risk Group 0
• Subclause 5.2.16: additional requirements for AC mains appliance inlets related to IEC 61984; - Addition of Subclause 3.3.25, UV protection of cable
• Addition of Clause 4.34, Inclusion of EMF safety requirements (IEC 62493)
• Revision of the requirements for functional earth and protective earth
• Addition of Clause 4.35, Protection against fast rotating parts
• Revision of Clause 3.2, rated voltage marking
• Revision of Subclause 5.2.10, Cord anchorage
• Revision of Annex G for touch current and protective conductor current test set-up
• Addition of requirements for constant light output function and programmable current output
• Revision of Subclause 8.2.3 c), touch voltage limits for interrupted DC voltage.
• Introduction of PELV
• Introduction of Ethernet power supply connection for luminaires (PoE)
• Section 9, Introduction of IPX9
• Addition of Subclause 3.3.26 for wall mounted luminaires
• Revision of Annex D introducing alternative thermal tests for luminaires with a marking higher than 25° C
• Revision of Table 10.3 and Subclause 3.3.19 for protective conductor current limits
• Track-mounted luminaires: cross-reference to Annex A of IEC 60570:2003/AMD2:2019
• Revision of Subclause 10.2.2, alternative DC electric strength test
• Revision of Annex D for recessed luminaires
• Subclause 4.12.5: revision of Table 4.2 for torque test on metal glands
• Revision of use of bridging capacitors in luminaires; - Revision of electrical connection to class III plugs

On July 20, 2020, a new International Standard IEC 60598-2-23:2020 has been published. It deals with extra-low-voltage (ELV) lighting systems for ELV light sources.

The IEC 60598-2-23:2020 specifies requirements for extra-low-voltage lighting systems for ELV light sources, intended for ordinary interior use on supply voltages not exceeding 1,000 V.

This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 1996 and Amendment 1:2000. This edition constitutes a technical revision and includes the following technical changes:

1. 1. The title has been modified to allow the inclusion of other light sources
   2. The scope has been updated to be aligned with the other parts of the IEC 60598-2 series and to include other light sources
   3. Normative references and the reference to transformer and control gear standards have been updated
   4. The short circuit test was removed and reference is now made to the same test in Part 1

On Aug. 12, 2020, the new standards IEC 62868-2-1:2020 and IEC 62868-2-2:2020 have been published.

The IEC 62868-2-1:2020 specifies safety requirements for semi-integrated organic light-emitting diode modules operating with an external control gear connected to the mains voltage, and which, in addition, have a control means inside (semi-integrated) for operation under constant voltage, current or power and have a rated voltage up to 120 V ripple-free DC or 50 V AC RMS at 50 Hz or 60 Hz.

The IEC 62868-2-2:2020 specifies safety requirements for integrated organic light-emitting diode (OLED) modules for use on ripple-free DC supplies up to 1,000 V or AC supplies up to 1,000 V RMS at 50 Hz or 60Hz

How UL can help

We are expertly qualified to help you demonstrate your products meet the essential requirements of EU directives and regulations and achieve compliant testing to the applicable harmonized requirements.

We also provide UL certification Marks, such as the D-mark and  UL-EU Marks, and ENEC marks. Widely recognized throughout Europe, the D-mark, UL-EU and ENEC marks are voluntary for appliances and demonstrate compliance of products with harmonized European standards verified by an independent third party. Therefore, they could be complementary marks to the mandatory CE marking, which is based on a self-declaration.

In addition, we are one of the largest and most active CB Scheme members, and we operate four NCBs in different countries and over 50 CB testing laboratories (CBTLs) to provide local service with global coverage for our customers.

Our NCBs in Denmark, the U.S., Japan and Canada, with CBTLs in all major regions, can assess your products to a broad range of IEC standards, with any relevant national or group differences.